Congressional Black Caucus Seeks to Retain Clout

This year has been difficult for the Congressional Black Caucus. Two CBC veterans – Reps. Charlie Rangel of New York and Maxine Waters of California are in trouble over ethics issues. And five other CBC members were deemed to have improperly — but unknowingly — accepted corporate-funded travel to the Caribbean. But CBC leaders say the group will maintain its relevance, Roll Call reports.

“I think it would be a mistake to assume that an investigation of two members of a specific caucus [Rangel and Waters] demeans the entire caucus,” says Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., incoming chairman of the 42-member CBC. “I mean anybody here in Congress who has gotten into trouble we could probably trace to their Congressional caucus, whether it’s Duke Cunningham or Charlie Rangel [pictured] or the guy tickling his staff members. ... So I don’t think that’s accurate at all.”